The Browns are sticking with the quarterback plan they expected to use once Deshaun Watson cleared concussion protocol.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Cleveland plans to start Watson in Week 10 against the Texans, a move that sends Shedeur Sanders back to the backup role after his Week 9 start in New Orleans. Fowler reported, "The Browns plan to start Deshaun Watson in Week 10 vs. the Texans, per source," and added, "Shedeur Sanders filled in Sunday in New Orleans, but returning to Watson was the expected move once he cleared concussion protocol."
Watson landed in concussion protocol during the team’s practice week before the Saints game, then cleared it but remained inactive on gameday. That opened the door for Sanders, who nearly pulled off another Browns comeback. Cleveland came within an overtime two-point conversion of beating New Orleans before falling 23-22.
Sanders finished 19 of 31 for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He also took five sacks, rushed for 28 yards on 10 carries, and gave the Browns a shot until the final moments.
Still, it wasn’t enough to change the team’s direction. The Browns are 5-4 and fighting for a place in the AFC playoff picture, and Week 10 now belongs to Watson as Cleveland turns back to its regular starter against a Texans defense that has not matched the elite level it showed a year ago.
Sanders could get another crack at the job later, but not this week. For now, the Browns are moving ahead with Watson under center.
In Other News...
Texans Trade Deadline Push Now Centers On One Surprising Upgrade
As the trade deadline creeps closer, the Texans search for help has started to focus on an area that could shape the rest of their season: the offensive line. Houston has been linked in speculation to Philadelphia guard Landon Dickerson, a name that stands out because he would represent more than a routine depth add. He is the kind of interior upgrade that can change how a front five functions, especially for a team trying to steady its protection and keep its offense on schedule.
The fit makes enough sense to keep the idea alive, but it remains just that for now. Philadelphia would have to decide whether it makes sense to move a player of Dickersons caliber, and Houston would have to weigh the cost against the urgency of improving up front. For the Texans, this is the sort of deadline conversation that says plenty about where they see the roster, even if no deal has been reported. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face One Big Trade Deadline Question In The Backfield
The Texans are doing what plenty of teams do when the trade deadline starts creeping closer: taking a hard look at the backfield and seeing what might be available. Houston has reportedly checked on running backs around the league, and the search appears aimed less at making a splash than at finding a useful addition who can help steady the position for the stretch run.
Names like Devin Singletary and Breece Hall have come up as possible fits for what the Texans need, while the biggest names on the market would likely take more than Houston wants to spend. Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry would all come with a steep price, which is why this feels more like a depth play than a chase for a headline-grabbing upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Could Still Move An Underused Piece Before The Deadline
With the NFL trade deadline closing in, the Texans still have not made a move, but the conversation around their roster has not gone quiet. Four names have surfaced as possible trade candidates, including offensive linemen Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, along with quarterback Davis Mills, whose role and contract situation keep him in the mix as teams weigh what they need and what Houston might be willing to discuss.
Mills is the most intriguing piece in that group because he has been part of the Texans' quarterback picture without being a central figure in it. Whether Houston decides to explore a deal or simply keep its depth intact, the next few days will reveal how aggressively the team wants to balance flexibility against the value of holding onto experienced depth. [Read more 🡒]